This is our chance to change the narrative
IT WAS exactly a year ago today that the image of the body of threeyear-old Alan Kurdi, washed up on the shores of Turkey, dramatised to the world the tragedy of the biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War.
Sadly, it has been all too easy in recent months for the ongoing crisis to be forgotten as other news stories vie for public attention. We need to remind ourselves constantly of the daily reality facing thousands who have little option but to flee from the terror that has overtaken countries such as Syria.
Last September, David Cameron announced that the UK would take 20,000 Syrian refugees over a five-year period. So far, only about 1,600, including 500 children, have arrived, with the largest groups going to Scotland, Coventry and Birmingham.
Thegovernmentroleof aministerfor Syrianrefugeeresettlementhasbeen abolished,causinggreatconcernamong refugee organisations. A recent report bytheHomeAffairsSelectCommittee said there is scant evidence that Britain wouldreachthetargetof 20,000.
Two thirds of local authorities have offered to take Syrian refugees, but only 11 of the 32 London boroughs have agreed to do so and none of the 10 in Greater Manchester. Fifty-three councils have refused to accept Syrian refugees because of financial pressures and housing shortages.
In Europe, the overall situation remains disturbing. So far this year, more than 242,000 migrants and refugees have arrived by sea. But 3,116 died on the way, 1,000 more than last year. Fifty thousand remain stranded in Greece, with not enough food and living in conditions that one official claimed were “unfit for animals”.
The situation in Turkey is equally grim — many children are now working illegally in sweatshops or in other employment to support their families.
Overall, more than 10,000 of the estimated 90,000 lone refugee children in continental Europe have gone missing.
In May, the UK government agreed to offer sanctuary to vulnerable minors but, as yet, only 20 have been selected for relocation and none has actually arrived. Councils are reluctant to accept child refugees because, even though the government has increased the funding for their support, it is guaranteed only for a year.
According to a report published in